What are some important facts about the life of Mary Mother of Jesus?

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Little is known about Mary, the mother of Jesus, though biblical historians do know that she was a Jewish woman born to Anna and a wealthy man, Joachim, around the year 23 or 20 B.C. She married a carpenter, Joseph, and is credited as being the mother of Jesus and several other sons, including James, Joses, Simon, Judas and several unnamed daughters.

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Mary's parents presented her in the Temple around 20 to 17 B.C. According to apocryphal writings, she spent her childhood, roughly ages 3 to 12, being educated in the Temple under the tutelage of Zechariah. She became engaged to Joseph around 11 or 8 B.C. The Annunciation, when Mary was told by the angel Gabriel of her pregnancy, is celebrated on March 25, and it is presumed to have occurred around that time in the year 7 B.C.

Mary gave birth to Jesus around 7 B.C. in Bethlehem. She, Joseph and Jesus fled to Egypt to avoid threats made by King Herod, and they remained there for years before returning to Nazareth after Herod's death.

Mary and Joseph found Jesus speaking to some older men in their local temple around 6 A.D. Mary was involved with and supportive of Jesus' work, and she was present when he performed his first miracle during a wedding at Cana, around 28 to 30 A.D. She was also present during his crucifixion around 30 A.D. At some point after Jesus' resurrection, Mary was assumed into Heaven and spared an earthly death.